Finale Inventory wrote this article.
You know that shipping costs can be costly if you need to purchase items for your project. Delivery costs are often overlooked in project budgets.
There are many ways to save money on these costs. Take a look.
1. Invest in a Label Printing Machine
Sometimes, we need to ship items when working on projects. For example, I have had to move equipment between sites and even send laptops to remote workers.
You don’t have to go to the post office if you have lots of items that need to be delivered. Instead, print your labels yourself. Label printers are very affordable and easy to use. You can speed up the process of getting items ready for shipping by using this printer.
2. Consolidation Services are available
To reduce costs, zone skipping can be used if your project requires items to be delivered to only a few places. Once you have gathered the items, you will send them to a consolidation company. They’ll then deliver your shipments through their distribution centers.
This will allow you to quickly and inexpensively get your items.
3. You can use more than one carrier
Shipping with multiple carriers can help you save money, especially considering that 61% of customers will pay more for same day delivery. FedEx could offer a cheaper package than UPS, so it is important to investigate all options.
If you have multiple locations within your organization and need to ship between them, you might be able to use an in-house delivery service.
4. Third-Party Insurance
Many carriers offer expensive insurance. Third-party insurance is a good option if you need to move expensive items. Most carriers charge around 80 cents for every $100. This is a significant amount if you need to send valuable shipments. Other insurance companies offer lower rates.
Your company may already have the appropriate insurance. Talk to your Finance team or the Post Room staff before you add insurance to the project budget.
5. Know your measurements
It is important to measure your shipments. You can choose the most economical shipping method if you know the exact dimensions, weight, and size of your shipment.
6. Calculate the Landed Cost
Many projects require goods to be received and then transferred out.
You may be charged extra fees for ordering products from overseas suppliers.
Before you agree to any purchase, calculate the landed costs. This is the cost of shipping your shipment to your home.
[Note from Elizabeth] A supplier recently sent me a Tshirt and other promotional material and it cost me PS12.20 for me to accept delivery due to custom fees! Before you sign any deals with vendors oversees, be sure to check these hidden costs.
7. Join an Association
Sometimes professional associations can offer discounts to carriers. Ask about any discounts if you are already a member of an organization. You can also search for groups that match your business needs. There are many other resources that you can use.
8. Choose Online Shipping
You can mail to the U.S. Online shipping is an option if you want to mail through the U.S. Both priority mail and express orders can be shipped at a lower cost. Priority mail is already less expensive than other services. There are a few other freebies you can receive, such as delivery confirmation.
If you are outside the USA, your national delivery services may offer a similar service.
9. Talk to Carriers
Many project managers don’t know that they can negotiate with carriers. Calculate similar costs for another carrier if you ship currently through one carrier. You might be able to save money by using a second carrier. You can use this number to your advantage.
Project managers must be able to negotiate. It never hurts to ask!
10. Get creative with packaging
You don’t have to purchase new packaging every time. You can reuse boxes that haven’t been damaged.